Chapter 22: Tsunade's Change in Mindset

Chapter 22: Tsunade's Change in Mindset

At the Senju Clan's medical workspace.

At noon, Uchiha Yosuke made his way here again, as if he were used to it.

"So, kid, tell me—how does it feel to overachieve your mission?" Tsunade leaned back lazily in her office chair, looking at the young man in front of her with a teasing smile.

Uchiha Yosuke glanced at the IV just inserted into his arm. A hint of stubbornness flickered across his face, but he eventually stayed silent, portraying a feeling of frustration—a mission bearer, holding back for the sake of his clan.

"Captain Tsunade, the Uchiha clan has made mistakes in the past, but now we only want to protect the village, not be isolated."

In Tsunade's eyes, this kid, although her spy, was someone who clearly loved his clan.

"Alright, that was all ages ago. It's long in the past." Tsunade waved her hand dismissively, chuckling. The feud between Senju and Uchiha had long faded; after all, how many Senju even remained in the village?

"So, kid, you don't want to talk about those two times you passed on intel?"

Seeing the look Tsunade gave him, Uchiha Yosuke's face took on a determined expression. "Lady Tsunade, the battlefield in the Land of Rain is critical, and based on the last two pieces of information, this doesn't necessarily point to any action by the village's higher-ups. I'm sorry about Nawaki's incident, but it was determined to be an accident. And last night's incident… Captain Tsunade, you should understand what your position means."

Basically, Yosuke clung to the idea of loyalty to the village, refusing to believe it could be so dark, insisting there must be a few bad apples rather than any widespread issue. But his words seemed forced, as if even he wasn't fully convinced. Nonetheless, he spoke with forced resolve:

"Captain Tsunade, your position is highly influential. Both within the village and even among the Uchiha, it's said that whoever marries you would have a high chance of becoming Hokage. So perhaps Jonin Dan Kato's intentions were… personal."

With that poor explanation, he came off as a fanatic of the Will of Fire, refusing to see darkness at the core of Konoha, and trying to make sense of it with loyalty.

"Personal? Accident?" Tsunade chuckled lightly, crossing her long, elegant legs gracefully, an air of calm beauty surrounding her. She seemed to quiet down, and sunlight gently illuminated her golden hair.

In the world of shinobi, chakra combines mental and physical energy. Many powerful shinobi held strong beliefs, and if those beliefs wavered, their power often declined. That's why a shattered belief often leads to weakness, while embracing the dark side can bring tenfold strength.

Yosuke never intended to break anyone's faith; he preferred to let others gradually doubt themselves, and when their beliefs weakened, he could subtly replace them with what he wanted.

"Captain Tsunade, I believe in the Will of Fire, and I believe in the village!"

Noticing Tsunade's wavering resolve, Yosuke firmly asserted his belief. He subtly implied it wasn't he who doubted, but her.

All he needed to do was share a few future insights; suspicions had already been sown. Given time, they would flourish.

This was the advantage of foresight: why not exploit what he knew for his gain?

"Persistent Uchiha kid," Tsunade scoffed, laughing at the youth's eagerness to convince her.

"Then, what about the Uchiha? Didn't you just say your clan had given orders that you'd sacrifice yourself in a critical moment?"

Suddenly, her tone changed as her bright brown eyes locked onto him. Uchiha Yosuke took a deep breath.

Indeed, Tsunade was no simple-minded shinobi. She constantly probed and tested him.

But he was prepared.

"Captain Tsunade, I…"

Yosuke's face flushed red as he looked conflicted, caught between loyalty to his clan and loyalty to the village. In Tsunade's eyes, this young boy, the same age as her younger brother, was carrying the weight of both his clan and village at such a young age.

Tsunade couldn't help but reveal a trace of contemptuous smile.

The so-called "evil" Uchiha clan was humbling itself to integrate into Konoha, while certain high-ranking individuals had forgotten who elevated them to their positions.

After her probing, Tsunade's tone shifted again.

"Yosuke! From now on, you better behave. The entire village, even the Uchiha clan, is watching."

Her teasing, almost affectionate voice made Yosuke shiver, as Tsunade looked at him like a doting older sister.

Impressive, but... too dangerous to act on.

"Captain Tsunade, I'm just here to help you out," Yosuke said with a timid smile, even if he found the allure tempting.

"Last night was just a misunderstanding. Besides, I've already reported it to my clan. They've agreed to support you financially, covering the costs of the research into genetic diseases."

And, from the intelligence Uchiha had gathered, they knew Tsunade loved her wine and gambling, and that most of the Senju family's wealth had gone to the village. He could ensure funding if she needed.

Seeing his sincerity, Tsunade's expression grew cross.

"What do you mean by that, kid?!"

He dared to insinuate she was unreliable? She hadn't even judged his age!

Besides, what was this talk of her loving alcohol and gambling?

As if she'd accept bribes for such things!

"Captain Tsunade! I didn't mean it that way, I—"

Yosuke stammered, clearly embarrassed. His situation between the Senju and Uchiha clans was like walking on a paper-thin line.

Tsunade took a small sip of tea, contemplating.

"Kid, this is your chance to serve as a bridge between the Uchiha and the village. Even though the Senju are weakened, our voice in the village still carries weight."

With her teacup in hand, Tsunade narrowed her eyes. The Senju were so diminished that people were beginning to test their boundaries. This was a good chance to leverage Uchiha's influence and send a message to those in power.

The Senju might be weak, but with the Uchiha?

The incidents with Nawaki and the recent Jonin meeting had given Tsunade a harsh but rapid awakening to the darkness within the village. The village's suspicions weren't just directed outward; they extended to its own people—even to her!

In only twenty years, for a shinobi whose life was already short, the village had almost forgotten the Senju.

***

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